Part 3: The Teenage Crisis
Often thought, a life crisis happens when one is in the middle of their life. I found however that this is not true. Often people have a series of crisis, not only one when they get older, but one in their teenage life as well. For me my teenage crisis happened when I was a sophmore. But I find this year that many Juniors in high school are hacing their crisis. Yes, there are ways to get out of it wiser, if not alive.
My Story
Last year I believe I had my teenage crisis. I don't know whether it was brought on by the stress or the enviornment or just the fact that it happens, but it did happen and I did suffer, but I am now able to say that I have survived and am now wiser in many ways.
Last year was tough for me, not that I stuggled but I believe I took a step back and looked at my life. I fell a part, my life had no meaning, no destination. I felt like a drone, wake up, go to school, work hard, eat, sleep. It was terrible, or was it that I was just getting older? For two weeks I was miserable, the smallest things would set me off. At this point none of my friends could understand or help me. I was being suffocated and I needed to get out.
One day in the weeks of October of last year, I went back to the middle school and a teacher of mine asked me how I was doing. Reguarly I would just be fine and carry on, but this time I broke down. I was done for. Yes it was embarassing and yes I did worry people, but it helped. She helped me realize what life was worth and set me straight. When I got home that night I wrote an email to a friend, a wise friend. I wrote a constitution to myself and wrote several promises that I would try to upkeep. I told him to tell me that if I ever felt that way to email that back to me. This whole thing did not involve my parents, it was all me against myself. I didn't want to worry them about anything. Later that month I also went back to karate. I had previously taken a large leave of absence from karate (which I had been doing for the past six years). I felt that going back would set up discipline in my life again and bring back my morals, as well as give me more of a social life. It did. This is the first school year I have not gone to karate, but I think I'm alright. I highly recommend karate. Not only do you keep in shape but it's very good mentally.
I survived and came out wiser. During that time I also thought I was alone and I'm the only one who has feelings like this. As I know now, I'm not alone anymore and people DO go through this. It happens, it's real. Some may call it depression, but it's not. It's only depression if you let it get to you. I hope that through my experiences I can help other people, my peers through theirs so they don't have to go through the long process of recovery I did. You can say, my teenage crisis was a "success". And I do help my peers.
The Dangers
But what would have happend had I not talked that day? What would have happend if I didn't recover? I do believe these questions are the answers to some of the problems associated with teenagers today.
If the emotions that are beared are carried around and bottled up, then they just keep growing. People express this in different ways. Some people get angry, which leads to violence, you wonder why those kids have the anger to murder their peers, because no one helped them, no one talked to them no one cared. Others may choose suicide, teenagers have a very high rate of death by suicide. No this is not a good solution to the problems but when your emotions are gone and there is nothing else to live for, the morals you hold become clouded. Most choose alcohol or illegal substandes. I'm not saying that everyone does drugs because they are suffering. But, (I can swear on my life that I've never done drugs or tasted alcohol without my parent's concent) apparently the substances mask the true emotions and make you feel good. Tying this back in, suffering? Yes well there you go, to get rid of the pain to shield yourself from the shame...people do these things. I'm not saying it's the right thing to do, I'm just stating that they do them.
The Solution
Communication. Talking, listening are just so simple yet they can save someone's life. Imagine the guilt you had if you knew someone who took their own life, you could have stopped them, but you didn't. Maybe you did care, but you didn't care enough did you? If only you said something.
This is what I do. I talk, I listen, I analyze. No I don't often solve the problem and then become a saint, but I help. I know I do, people don't need to tell me I can feel just the steam blow out. That to me, is the best feeling, no drugs, no money, nothing can replace the feeling of knowing that you alone have helped someone.
It's not easy, and you have to be strong, everyone has to be strong, but at the same time sympathetic and compassionate. And if someone is thinking about harming themselves or other people, you NEED to tell someone else. It's a vicious cycle of guilt, commincation and life, but it happens. You just have to know how to deal with it in order to live from it.
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